Pernettya

About 20 species of evergreen shrubby plants belong to the genus Pernettya. The most common species is Pernettya mucronata, with many straight, thin stems and small dark green glossy oval-lanceolate pointed leaves. The flowers are very small and white, similar to erica flowers, and bloom in late May and June. The fruits that appear in autumn are very decorative globular berries, when ripe they acquire a marble color-from pink to purple-and stay on the plants during the winter. There are different varieties: 'White' with white fruits; 'Dark crimson 'with dark crimson fruits;' Purple ' with reddish-lilac fruits with fruits; 'Pinkish' with large pink berries. Other species are less common, such as boxwood Pernettya (P. buxifolia), a dwarf plant with thin, curved stems and dark green leaves with a jagged edge. The flowers are white funnel-shaped, blooming in May-June. The berries are white, pink or dark purple. The creeping Pernettya (P. prostrata) is characterized by curved pubescent stems and glossy narrow dark green leaves. The flowers are white, single or in small racemose inflorescences, blooming in May-June, in their place dark berries are formed.

About 20 species of evergreen shrubby plants belong to the genus Pernettya.

The most common species is Pernettya mucronata, with many straight, thin stems and small dark green glossy oval-lanceolate pointed leaves. The flowers are very small and white, similar to erica flowers, and bloom in late May and June. The fruits that appear in autumn are very decorative globular berries, when ripe they acquire a marble color-from pink to purple-and stay on the plants during the winter. There are different varieties: 'White' with white fruits; 'Dark crimson 'with dark crimson fruits;' Purple ' with reddish-lilac fruits with fruits; 'Pinkish' with large pink berries.

Other species are less common, such as boxwood Pernettya (P. buxifolia), a dwarf plant with thin, curved stems and dark green leaves with a jagged edge. The flowers are white funnel-shaped, blooming in May-June. The berries are white, pink or dark purple.

The creeping Pernettya (P. prostrata) is characterized by curved pubescent stems and glossy narrow dark green leaves. The flowers are white, single or in small racemose inflorescences, blooming in May-June, in their place dark berries are formed.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Pernettya are grown outdoors as evergreen shrubs in group plantings in parks and gardens; they are especially valued for their decorative fruit. Pernettya are also magnificent groundcover plants. In addition, they are also grown in pots on balconies and terraces. Branches covered with berries are cut and used in compositions with "live" flowers and dried flowers. Pernettya are monoecious plants (male and female flowers on the same bush), so in order to have berries, it is recommended to grow them in groups. Pernettya are planted on a permanent planting site in September-October, if the ground is dry. light mechanical composition, or in March-April, if the soil is heavy or wet. Any soil is suitable for them, just not carbonate. It is desirable that it is fertile, sufficiently moist, ideally pH (soil acidity) should be 5.0-5.5. When planting, organic fertilizers are applied. Potted soil - a mixture of peat, leaf humus and garden fertile land with the addition of a complex fertilizer at the rate of 30 g per bucket of soil. In addition, during the growing season, a complex fertilizer is added 3-4 times to the water for irrigation (20 g per bucket). If the plants are too large, they stretch out, and at the end of winter they shorten (cut) branches, which contributes to branching.

Location

Plants planted in a sunny area produce much more fruit than those in the shade.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

Water the crops grown in a pot, and in hot dry periods - young plantings. Watering is also necessary during transplanting into the ground.

Transplant

Transplanted once every 1-2 years in the spring. After 4-5 years, potted plants are recommended to be finally planted in the open ground in the air.

Reproduction

Varieties and garden forms are propagated by cuttings, because when they are sown, they lose the properties of the mother plant. Cuttings 5 cm long are taken in September-October and placed in a mixture based on sand and peat, in a closed, unheated room. After the roots are formed, the seedlings dive into the pots one at a time. They are finally planted in the ground in 1-2 years. The species are propagated by sowing seeds in October. After germination, the seedlings are treated as seedlings obtained by cuttings.

Diseases

Too high a pH value often leads to chlorosis, which is expressed in yellowing of the aboveground part of plants. Use soil with a suitable pH, you can treat the plantings with appropriate preparations or iron sulfate. In waterlogged soil, root rot often occurs. In this case, watering is temporarily stopped. Excess moisture in the fall can lead to gray rot on the fruit. They are treated with fungicidal preparations.

Acquisition

Pernettya is quite easy to find in specialized nurseries, gardening centers and other retail outlets that sell indoor and garden plants. They are bought in the fall or spring to immediately plant in the ground. Choose well-formed specimens and, if it is autumn, with a large number of berries.